Jim White and Giorgos Xylouris both hail from island nations, and while these physical spaces are oceans apart, the two musicians bridge the gap through a shared love of sonic spontaneity. The Australian drummer of Dirty Three fame and the Greek lute virtuoso both strive to harness the organic energy of the moment in their music. These instinctual, extemporaneous approaches build off their deep experiences. In the case of their band Xylouris White, the duo channel Crete’s ancient musical traditions, specifically the heritage of Xylouris’s multigenerational family of master musicians. On this episode of Open End, Xylouris White presents a wide span of Cretan music to illustrate the inventive nature of their contemporary collaboration. The show caps off with an incredible world premiere from London spiritual jazz project Emanative.
